This crushed stone calculator shows how many cubic yards and tons of crushed stone, crusher run or #57 stone to order for your driveway, base layer or trench.
How to use the crushed stone calculator
- Pick a rectangle or a circle and enter the size of the area. Break L-shapes and curves into simpler pieces and add the results.
- Enter the depth you want once the material is spread and levelled. Depth is usually easiest in inches.
- Keep an allowance for settling and low spots unless the ground is already flat and firm.
- Check the weight per cubic yard against your supplier’s figure, then add a price to get a cost estimate.
Crushed stone formulas
Volume (ft³) = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27 Tons = cubic yards × weight per yd³ (lb) ÷ 2,000 With extra = volume × (1 + extra % ÷ 100)
Suppliers price crushed stone by the ton or by the cubic yard, so the calculator gives both. Enter the weight per cubic yard your yard quotes if it differs from the default, because that number is what turns yards into tons.
Worked example: 50 × 12 ft at 4 in deep
- Volume: 50 ft × 12 ft × 0.333 ft = 200.0 ft³.
- Add 10% extra: 200.0 × 1.10 = 220.0 ft³.
- Cubic yards: 220.0 ÷ 27 = 8.15 yd³.
- Tons: 8.15 × 2,700 ÷ 2,000 = 11.00 tons.
How deep to go
Driveways are usually 4 in of stone over a prepared subgrade, or 6–8 in on soft ground and where trucks turn. Drainage trenches are filled to whatever depth the pipe needs.
Coverage at each depth
| Depth | One cubic yard covers | One ton covers | Per 100 ft² |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 162 ft² | 120 ft² | 0.62 yd³ |
| 3 in | 108 ft² | 80 ft² | 0.93 yd³ |
| 4 in | 81 ft² | 60 ft² | 1.23 yd³ |
| 6 in | 54 ft² | 40 ft² | 1.85 yd³ |
Figures use 2,700 lb per cubic yard. Change the weight in the calculator and the numbers move with it.
Questions
How much does a yard of crushed stone weigh?
About 2,500–2,900 lb, roughly 1.35 tons, per North Bay Materials’ density chart for crushed rock.
How many tons of crushed stone do I need for a driveway?
Multiply length × width × depth in feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by about 1.35. A 50 × 12 ft drive at 4 in is 7.4 yd³, about 10 tons.
How deep should crushed stone be for a driveway?
4 in of compacted stone suits a car on firm ground. Soft or clay subgrade, or regular truck traffic, wants 6–8 in, often in two layers.
What is the difference between crusher run and #57 stone?
Crusher run has fines mixed in so it compacts into a hard base. #57 is washed and uniform, so it drains freely but stays loose — it is used for drainage and as a top layer, not as a compacted base.
How many tons of crushed stone for a 100 sq ft area 4 in deep?
100 × 0.333 ft = 33 cu ft ÷ 27 = 1.23 yd, about 1.7 tons at 1.4 tons per yard.
Sources
- Landscape Materials Density Chart, North Bay Materials.
Used for: Typical weights per cubic yard for gravel, crushed rock, soil and mulch. - NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B.8: Factors for units listed alphabetically, National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Used for: Exact inch and foot definitions; cubic foot and cubic yard conversions.